To consider this harassment?

[2Hot2Handle]

I don’t have a TV licence and haven’t for a few years. I decided not to renew it, one year, when I realised that no one in our household watched anything live on terrestrial, or any networks or apps. Instead I went onto the TV Licensing website and declared that I didn’t need a licence, so they have been properly informed.

Our viewing is exclusively on subscription services (Netflix, Amazon, Disney Plus only). We don’t watch anything live. Our TV aerial is not connected and we gave back our Sky equipment to Sky, when I ended our contract, although a dish is still on the side of our house, which doesn’t connect to anything.

It seems pointless to pay £159, for a service we don’t use.

Recently, I’ve been receiving letters from TV Licensing, telling me that they are sending an Enforcement Officer to my house, because I’ve been ignoring their letters. Even though I am not doing anything wrong, it still makes me feel stressed. I’m concerned that they will fabricate a reason, or evidence, to be able to fine me. At the same time, I am reluctant to pay for a licence that I don’t need, because they are threatening me. The wording of their letter feels like harassment and that I’m being forced to pay purely to get them to leave me alone and stop sending me threat. My questions are;

• Has anyone else declined to have a TV licence and how have/do you handle it, when chased by TV Licensing?
• Is there anything I can do to protect myself?
• Should I be concerned about a visit?
• What are enforcement officers allowed to do if they do show up?

Lots of people only stream and watch Netflix or whatever. It is becoming the norm. You will not get into trouble.

Stop being a jobsworth and just respond to their original letter. Then they wouldn’t need to waste their time and resources sending sometime to your house!

@LBFseBrom thanks for the reassurance! I hope so!

What year did you cancel it?

Just go on their website and declare you don't need one. They'll leave you alone for 3 years

I think it's 2 years.

Why should they, the OP has no contract or has no legal reason to deal with them. Why should the OP be forced to deal with them. OP tell them to fuck off.

@drpet49, you've applied the term “jobsworth” incorrectly.

A personal attack isn’t necessary.

I really don't understand the drama over this.

I declared I didn't need a TV licence. I had someone from TV Licensing at the door asking me questions about my usage. I invited them in, showed them that my TV wasn't tuned in, that there was no cable in the aerial point. I offered they could go and check the upstairs rooms, which they declined.

Not been bothered since. That was around 8 years ago or so.

Because it obviously went pass the time and they do say they will contact you again in few years. All one needs to do is say "no change, not needed"...

@IntrovertedPenguin thanks for your suggestion. I did declare that I don’t need one on their website, but do I need to renew that? I don’t think it’s been 3 years, but I can check that!

Just re-register online and if an enforcement officer comes show them your setup. If you’re genuinely not breaking the law they will just have a look, say thanks, and be on their way. We never had any issues with them.
I do agree their messaging is rude though.

Give TV licensing a ring and sort it out. They tend to send out quite threatening letters until you declare that you don't need licence.

I haven't had a TV for many years and only watch Netflix and Amazon Prime, nothing live. Every now and then TV licensing contact me and I let them know I still don't need a license. I just stick to the rules of what I can and can't watch as on the TV licensing webpage.

I haven't had a TV Licence for years as we only stream. When we moved an Enforcement Officer came to our property - we showed them that the Sky dish was disconnected and they looked on our TV to see when the BBC and ITV apps were last downloaded/updated. Since they visited they have left us alone, so of they come, don't stress.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I’ve taken @PeekabooAtTheZoo ‘s advice and re-registered on their website. I will bear it in mind that I have to do this every couple of years. They have not mentioned that I can do this on their letters, which seems like a simple solution they could offer!

I haven't had a tv licence since 2011. Used to tell them online etc every 2 years. But since moving 3 years ago haven't bothered. Have a big fat wad of their 'threatening' letters now...1 every month...I'm ok with telling 'em to "bugger 'orf" if they come to the door.

I don't watch ANY live broadcasts on ANY TV or other device.

Don't listen to any BBC radio either, so feel no 'moral' obligation to support this dreadful entity.

We accidentally ignored a letter when we moved in and got a threatening letter saying they'd send someone round 🥴. I just went online and ticked the declaration that I don't watch live TV. In the unlikely event they do come round you don't legally have to let them in or engage with them.

It's horrible isn't it. I get about 2-3 letters a month and will not let anyone into my house if they come to check.
The letters come in bright red envelopes as well. I've also stayed in on the days they are meant to come but they never do.

They have no right to come into your house without a court order, which they won't be able to get without evidence of you watching live tv, which they can't get as you aren't watching live tv so it's absolutely nothing to worry about. I've not had a license in nearly 20 years and I don't declare anything on the website or let anyone in. The letters get filed in the bin as soon as they arrive. I've had various enforcement officers turn up over the years and I turn them all away. They have no right to your personal information or to access your property. I've had one get pushy and try to stop me closing the door, so he got it slammed on his foot, but the rest have been perfectly polite. You're not doing anything wrong and these scare tactics they use make me really angry. It shouldn't be allowed.

@Estraya I agree with you that their scare tactics are uncalled for, especially if someone has gone through the process of making them aware they don’t need a licence.

Ignore them. DO NOT let them in.

I genuinely find it so hard to believe that people never watch anything at all live.
(I totally believe that people only watch a few live things a year)
so no coverage of the queens death or the funeral, no Olympics coverage, no football matches.

Without a doubt the worst ‘tax’ in this country. An actual joke.

The only people who support it are those with too much money.

Genuinely, I’ve not had a television or a TV licence for about 20 years now. My radio is on constantly. The BBC broadcast the Queen’s funeral without requiring a TV licence. I didn’t watch it live. We’re not interested in football matches or sports or the Olympics so we wouldn’t even watch them for free. My children (primary school and Y10) stream movies; we have no need of the old-fangled television.

I’m confused -
a few people reference they don’t watch live terrestrial-
if I only watch iplayer - but not live - do I need a licence ?????
thanks